FOI Request 2116

Subject: Lithium Ion and Electric Vehicle Fires

Status: Complete

Date received: March 2025

Question Asked:

1. How many fires linked to lithium-ion batteries did you record in the following periods?

   a. 1st Jan - 31st December 2022

   b. 1st Jan - 31st December 2023

   c. 1st Jan - 31st December 2024

   
   

2. How many fires linked to lithium-ion batteries took place in the following locations in 2024:

   a. Commercial property

   b. House or flat

   c. Outdoors

   
   

3. How many fatalities as a result of lithium-ion fires did you record in the following periods?

   a. 1st Jan - 31st December 2022

   b. 1st Jan - 31st December 2023

   c. 1st Jan - 31st December 2024

   
   

4. How many fires involving an electric bike did you record in the following periods?

   a. 1st Jan - 31st December 2022

   b. 1st Jan - 31st December 2023

   c. 1st Jan - 31st December 2024

   
   

5. How many fires involving an electric bike were from either of the following in 2024?

   a. Converted battery e-bikes

   b. Officially manufactured e-bikes

   
   

6. How many e-bike fires from 1st Jan to 31st Dec 2024 were caused for the following reasons?

   a. Manufacturing defect

   b. Overcharging

   c. Physical damage post-purchase

   d. Battery modification

   
   

7. What is the average financial cost for your fire service to suppress an e-bike fire?

   a. £0 - £999

   b. £1000 - £4999

   c. £5000 - £9999

   d. £10,000 +

   
   

8. What is the average length of time to suppress an e-bike fire?

   a. 0 - 1 hour

   b. 1 - 5 hours

   c. 6 - 10 hours

   d. 10+ hours

   
   

9. How many fires involving an electric scooter did you record in the following periods?

   a. 1st Jan - 31st December 2022

   b. 1st Jan - 31st December 2023

   c. 1st Jan - 31st December 2024

   
   

10. How many fires involving an electric car did you record in the following periods?

    a. 1st Jan - 31st December 2022

    b. 1st Jan - 31st December 2023

    c. 1st Jan - 31st December 2024

    
    

11. What is the average length of time to suppress an electric car fire?

    a. 0 - 1 hour

    b. 1 - 5 hours

    c. 6 - 10 hours

    d. 10+ hours

    
    

12. How many fires involving an electric mobility scooter did you record in the following periods?

    a. 1st Jan - 31st December 2022

    b. 1st Jan - 31st December 2023

    c. 1st Jan - 31st December 2024

    
    

13. How many fires involving an electric bus/coach did you record in the following periods?

    a. 1st Jan - 31st December 2022

    b. 1st Jan - 31st December 2023

    c. 1st Jan - 31st December 2024

Our Response:

Currently the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service Incident Recording System (IRS) has insufficient facilities for the comprehensive recording, and subsequent analysis, of the involvement of lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicles (bike, car, bus/coach, scooter, mobility scooters) at fires attended. Therefore, due to the specific information asked for, CFRS cannot provide the data requested.

Outcome: Data Not Held

FOI responded to within timescales: YES

Further action: NO